We are a united group of neighbors advocating for a healthier, more equitable, and sustainable Fluvanna. Together, we strongly oppose Tenaska's proposal for a second methane-fired power plant in our community.

Join us in calling on our elected leaders to protect our community from the harmful and cumulative effects of this proposed gas-fired power plant. The increase in public health costs, environmental impacts, and decreased property values far outweigh any potential tax benefits.

Fluvanna County has a long history of environmental injustice. Enough is enough.

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The Problem

Tenaska aims to double its footprint in Fluvanna County

Tenaska, a Nebraska-based energy company and one of the largest privately held companies in the United States, aims to leverage our rural resources to boost its considerable profits. The company intends to construct a second gas power plant near its existing methane plant. If this project is approved, these gas-fired power plants would become the largest in Virginia, significantly affecting Fluvanna County and the surrounding region.

Tenaska's materials conceal the health risks associated with methane gas plants and fail to acknowledge the actual reason for building a new one. They aim to sell energy on the open market, primarily to meet the rising demand from data centers, rather than serving our community.

Tenaska's community engagement has been minimal, initially binding local officials to a Non-Disclosure Agreement. They held an invitation-only meeting that excluded the media and the public. In a Special Meeting called by the Fluvanna Board of Supervisors, Tenaska only accepted written questions, and a representative chose which ones to answer. When asked about health impacts, Tenaska stated that it has not conducted specific local health impact studies and has not conducted air pollution modeling for its proposed plant.

While Tenaska highlights potential tax revenue and economic benefits, these need to be weighed against environmental and public health costs. The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) estimates the proposed plant's annual health impact costs at $13.6 million, increasing to

$21.1 million by 2040, totaling $275 million over the period.

Gas-fired plants emit nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which contribute to smog and respiratory problems, presenting health concerns for local communities. (EPA: Power Plants and Neighboring Communities.) The 2019 MAPP2Health Community Health Assessment shows increased rates of asthma and chronic pulmonary diseases in Fluvanna County.

Gas-fired plants harm water sources, disrupt ecosystems, and contribute to climate change, disproportionately impacting marginalized communities. Additionally, neighbors have long voiced complaints about the noise from the existing plant.

Since 2004, Tenaska has operated the Tenaska Virginia Generating Station, but local property owners have not experienced significant tax reductions; in fact, tax rates rose in 2025.

Gas-fired power plants present significant health and environmental risks to nearby communities.

Health and Environmental Impacts

Gas-fired power plants emit greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4), as well as nitrogen oxides (NOx), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), fine particulate matter (PM2.5), carbon monoxide (CO), and various hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), even with controls in place.

There is no safe level for fine particulate matter, and Tenaska's plant would release these pollutants, leading to higher illness and death rates among nearby residents.

The existing plant uses 3 to 4 million gallons of water daily from the James River. It discharges 1.5 million gallons of "hard water" daily into Cunningham Creek, which flows into the Rivanna River.

The new plant would draw an additional 6 to 7 million gallons from the James River daily, with an anticipated daily discharge of 1.5 million gallons per day.

Water for the plant would be pulled from the James River and, after being used, released into the Rivanna. Mixing waters from different rivers can pose significant dangers to ecosystems and human health.

Methane leaks are unavoidable in gas plants, and methane is over 25 times more potent than CO₂.

Good Community Partner?

Claims of tax benefits for Fluvanna are overstated. Despite the tax income from Tenaska’s current gas-fired plant, local taxpayers have not seen relief; in fact, property taxes increased in 2025.

Despite the tax revenue generated from Tenaska, our local government still faces challenges in adequately supporting our schools, service providers, and nonprofit organizations.

Impact costs to the community outweigh the claims of tax benefits, including increased public health costs, environmental impacts, and decreased property values.

Proximity to power plants often results in a decline of at least 11% in property values.

A similar proposal in Wisconsin projected health-related costs of up to $58.9 million annually—something to keep in mind with Tenaska’s claimed benefits.

Tenaska claims that job creation would benefit Fluvanna, but the Richmond Building and Construction Trades Council accused them of hiring out-of-state workers for their first plant. Tenaska admits this would also apply to the proposed plant.

Currently, only 19 of the 29 employees at the Tenaska Virginia facility live in Fluvanna, casting doubt on their claim of generating $8.8 million in local wages for the new plant.

Whose Power?

Tenaska cites "growing power demand" for the facility, but residential energy use is expected to remain stable. The true source of this demand stems from the numerous power-hungry data centers operated by wealthy corporations. Electricity demand in the commercial and industrial sectors is declining, with growth primarily coming from data centers.

The proposed plant will not supply power to our community. Tenaska sells electricity to the regional grid operator (PJM Interconnection), not directly to local consumers served by Dominion Energy. As a result, building a second gas plant won't reduce energy costs for Fluvanna County residents. Virginia's regulations allow Dominion to pass fuel costs to customers, exposing them to the volatility of natural gas prices. Virginia has seen significant rate increases recently due to high fossil fuel costs.

Fluvanna County will bear the health and environmental impacts, while Tenaska and other corporations will profit.

Other Communities

Pittsylvania County Successfully Opposes Natural Gas Plant

After months of public protests, the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors denied Balico LLC's request to rezone land for a large data center and gas power plant. Residents expressed concerns about pollution, noise, traffic, and the potential impact on the rural quality of life.

Just before the Board meeting, Balico withdrew its application. This decision followed a report from the Southern Environmental Law Center, the Harvard Data Science Initiative, and the Dominici Lab.

The report indicated that the power plant would release high levels of air pollution, potentially leading to millions of dollars in healthcare costs. It noted that 17,500 people in Pittsylvania County would be exposed to extreme levels of PM2.5, a pollutant linked to serious health issues. Many others in neighboring counties would face moderate exposure. Experts agree that there is no safe level of PM2.5, and the plant would emit at least 326.53 tons of this pollutant each year.

Additionally, the report estimated that healthcare costs for residents could reach $31 million annually due to the pollution from the proposed plant.

Even after Balico withdrew its application, the Board still voted against the request, which would have allowed the company to present a new plan with fewer negative consequences.

READ THE REPORT

Dozens of residents from Central Virginia attended a state briefing regarding Dominion Energy's proposed Chesterfield Energy Reliability Center (CERC). Dominion plans to build CERC adjacent to the Dutch Gap Conservation Area, on land formerly occupied by the old Chesterfield Power Station, a coal plant.

The briefing provided an opportunity for the public to pose questions to state regulators about the project. Community members expressed frustration that Chesterfield County chose not to hold public hearings, arguing that the existing special use permit for Dominion covers the proposed plant.

Many speakers raised concerns about whether the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality's (DEQ) air quality monitoring plan would be adequate to assess the health impacts on nearby residents. Additionally, residents questioned whether Dominion and DEQ could justify introducing more pollution into a community that has already endured decades of pollution from Dominion's decommissioned coal plant.

The DEQ is accepting public comments until October 8 and will hold another public meeting on September 8. The project also requires approval from the State Corporation Commission (SCC). The SCC is accepting comments on its website and will conduct a hearing on the matter on Tuesday, September 23.

READ THE REPORT

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The Problem